Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How Durham’s jailed residents are now shaping city budget decisions

Also check out Free Bra Fittings to Support Breast Cancer Awareness on the Durham Patch calendar

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Friday September 11th Patch AM
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Greetings Durham! We're your go-to source for what's happening in town. Read on to get plugged in! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How Durham's jailed residents are now shaping city budget decisions
  • How new cameras and policies aim to curb DHA complex shootings
  • What Lula and Sadie's closing means for Durham's neighborhood character

Also on today's calendar: Free Bra Fittings to Support Breast Cancer Awareness and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: I'm a rock group with 4 members; one member was assassinated. What am I? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Friday: A t-storm around in the p.m., with a high of 96 and low of 70 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
  • Saturday: A shower and t-storm; humid, temps: high: 87, low: 73.
  • Sunday: A t-storm around in the p.m., with a high of 85 and low of 69 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Participatory budgeting behind bars: Durham, North Carolina, gives incarcerated residents a say (smartcitiesdive.com) — Durham is expanding its participatory budgeting program so people incarcerated at the Durham County Detention Facility can help design and evaluate projects, not just vote on them. Working with city staff and the sheriff's office, residents behind bars used data tools to prioritize youth-focused improvements, and many say the process strengthened their connection to Durham and local government.
   

2. Warrant: multiple shootings at Durham Housing Authority property connected, retaliatory (wral.com) — A series of connected shootings at the Cornwallis Road Durham Housing Authority complex has left two adults dead and several youths injured, prompting urgent action from city and county leaders. Durham officials are advancing violence reduction strategies while DHA installs new security cameras and floodlights, aiming to better protect residents and surrounding neighbors from ongoing gun violence.
   

3. Durham's Lula and Sadie's to close after 6 years (abc11.com) — Beloved Durham restaurant Lula and Sadie's in the Lakewood neighborhood will close on Sept. 20 after six years, citing rising costs, staffing issues, and weaker foot traffic. Regulars say the spot embodied the community spirit they cherish in Durham, as its closure adds to more than 20 recent downtown business losses and fuels worries about chains replacing local favorites.
   

4. 'Outpouring of support': Durham County animal shelter gets influx of calls for dog found in dumpster (cbs17.com) — A dog named Kingston is recovering at the Animal Protection Society of Durham after employees found him abandoned in a dumpster behind The Scrap Exchange on Chapel Hill Road. Shelter staff say he's quickly warming up, will be ready for adoption Saturday, and has already inspired an outpouring of calls from Durham residents eager to help him and other animals in their care.
   

5. 2026 Smart Cities Dive Community Project Award Winners: Solving real community needs (smartcitiesdive.com) — Durham residents who are incarcerated are helping decide how a portion of the city's budget is spent, through an award-winning community engagement project. The initiative, honored by Smart Cities Dive alongside efforts in other U.S. cities, highlights Durham's innovative approach to including marginalized voices in local spending decisions and could influence how other communities shape their own participatory budgeting programs.
   

📸 Around Durham

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Durham

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📣 Durham Shout Outs!

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • I skipped the theme went straight for the cake - no regrets.
    Delicious and beautifully presented. I'm anxiously awaiting our next celebration for the next cake. #Faved (Nextdoor Maness - University Estates)
  • I received a text from "NC Medicaid" today telling me to save the number because it would be sending updates about Medicaid benefits.
    My immediate reaction was: "Is this a scam?" An 888 number, a shortened link, no name or case information, and instructions to save the number — all… (Nextdoor Featherstone)
  • Cintas Corporation posted a job opening for Production Associate - Custodian - 2nd Shift in Durham. Apply here.
  • Burlington Coat Factory posted a job opening for Customer Service Lead - Part Time in Durham. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Durham here.

Ok Durham! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Mount Rushmore (Thank you J.J. W. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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